Flexible containers



IN1/ENIGH Oct. 6, 1959 P. cARsTl-:NSEN

FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1955 United States Patent O M' FLEXLE CONTAINERS Palle Carstensen, Copenhagen-Vitara, Denmark Application August 15, 11955, SeralNo. 528,311

s' claims. (c1. zza-92) The present invention relates to llexible containers for liquid or semi-liquid materials, such as paste. The invention is more particularly concerned with such containers which have a mouthpiece of special shape, adapted for instance for inserting medical paste in cow-teats, by employing a rather long narrow mouthpiece, and adapted generally for medical use such as discharging medicinal materials into the human eyes.

One-piece containers made `of tin or like materials and comprising a flexible tubular wall, and a stiff conical end wall, with a long tubular projection providing the mouthpiece, are expensive to manufacture and it is difficult to prevent burrs or fins at the end of the mouthpiece.

It is known to provide a mouthpiece of thermoplastic resin material with a flange to be clamped against the metal container by means of a nut screwed on a tubular projection of said container. Such containers are expensive to manufacture, comprising two parts with screw threads. The parts are assembled manually which requires much time. The nut may loosen on the container, especially when the contents have a lubricating action and v become liquid when warm;

It is an object of the invention to provide a container in which the mouthpiece is securely attached to the container proper.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container which is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a container in which the mouthpiece engages tightly the container proper.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a container in which the mouthpiece can be kept disinfected.

In the drawings an embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example, the figure showing a longitudinal sectional view of a container according to the invention.

In the drawings 1 designates a llexible substantially tubular wall of a container with a substantially conical and stiff end wall 2 provided with a cylindrical outer projection 3 in which is formed a cylindrical bore defining an outlet aperture for the container. The said parts 1-3 are made of metal in the usual way. A long narrow tubular portion 4 is integral with a wider tubular portion 5 and a substantially conical flange `6 to provide a mouthpiece. The flange 6 engages the inner side of end wall 2, and the portion 5 fits tightly in the bore of said projection 3. Outside said projection 3 the mouthpiece is provided with a yieldable lateral projection 7 engaging the outer edge of projection 3. The said mouthpiece is made of yieldable material, such as polyethylene or material with similar properties, so that the flange 6 can engage elastically and tightly the inner side of end wall 2 even when the projection 3 has an incorrect length which may result during manufacture.

The container further comprises a detachable cap 8 of yieldable material, preferably thermoplastic resin material, such as polyethylene or material with similar properties, surrounding the portion 4 and engaging the outer 2,907,496 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 ICC edge of portion 3 so -as to prevent soiling of the mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece is inserted from the bottom of the tube before the bottom is sealed. Portion 7 will yield during insertion. Flange 6`Will hinder extraction of the mouthpiece. The container with its mouthpiece is disinfected before the container is filled.

The long thin mouthpiecefportion 4 may be omitted, the mouthpiece having only a short nozzle, and the cap I8 may be shaped correspondingly. There is thus obtained a flexible tube of substantially the usual appearance to be used in the manner of conventionalllexible tubes, for instance for tooth paste and cosmetic pastes, such tube preferably having a short cap of elastic resin material for closing tightly the mouthpiece opening.

I claim:

l. A container for dispensing pastes and like materials which comprises a flexible main wall portion defining the body of the container, a stiff inelastic discharge end wall portion provided with a stiff inelastic axial throat extension defining an aperture, and a substantially tubular mouthpiece element extending through said aperture in said throat extension, said mouthpiece element having an axial bore for discharge of material from said container and having a radially-extending flange firmly overlying the interior surface of said end wall and a pre-formed radially-extending portion exteriorly of said stiE throat extension engaging the end of said extension to lock said mouthpiece in said container, said radially-extending preformed portion being sufficiently flexible and bendable to conform to the internal diameter of said stiff inelastic extension` whereby said mouthpiece may be introduced into said throat from the interior of said container with said radially-extending portion flexing to permit axially outward passage through said throat, but by cooperating action with said flange said pre-formed portion locking said mouthpiece with said inelastic end wall portion and axial throat extension by reason of the resiliency of the mouthpiece portions against the stiff inelastic throat extension, said axial bore including inner and outer bore portions with the inner bore portion being of greater diameter, and a shoulder-defining wall portion connecting the inner surfaces of said bore portions.

2. A container for dispensing pastes and like materials which comprises a flexible metallic main wall portion defining the body of the container, a stiff inelastic metallic conical discharge end wall portion provided with a stiff inelastic axial throat extension defining an aperture and a substantially tubular mouthpiece element of polyethylene extending through said aperture in said throat extension, said mouthpiece element having an axial bore for discharge of material from said container and having a radially-extending conical flange firmly overlying the interior surface of said end wall portion and a pre-formed radially-extending portion exteriorly of said stiff throat extension engaging the end of said extension to lock said mouthpiece in said container, said radially-extending preformed portion being sufliciently flexible and bendable to conform to the internal diameter of said stiff inelastic extension whereby said mouthpiece may be introduced into said throat from the interior of said container with said radially-extending portion flexing to permit axially outward passage through said throat, but by cooperating action with said flange said pre-formed portion locking said mouthpiece with said inelastic end wall portion and axial throat extension by reason of the resiliency of the mouthpiece portions against the stiff inelastic throat extension, said axial bore including inner and outer bore portions with the inner bore portion being of greater diameter, and a shoulder-defining wall portion connecting the inner surfaces of said bore portions.

3. A container for dispensing pastes and like materials 3 which comprises a flexible main Wall portion dening the body of the container, a stiff inelastic discharge end wall portion provided with a stiff inelastic axial throat extension dening an aperture, and a substantially tubular mouthpiecey element extending through said aperture in said throat extension, said mouthpiece element having an axial bore for discharge of material from said container and' having a radially-extending ange rmly overlying the interior surface of said end wall and a pre-formed radially-extending portion exteriorly of said stil throat extension engaging the end of said extension =to lock said mouthpiece in said container, said radially-extending preformed portion being suiciently exible and bendable to conform to the internal diameter of said stiff inelastic extensionv Wherebysaid mouthpiecemay be introduced into said throat from the interior of said container with said. radially-extending portion ilexing to permit axially ont- Wardk passage through said throat, but by cooperating action with said ange said preformed portion locking said mouthpiece with said inelastic end Wall portion and` axial throat extension by reason of the resiliency of the mouth- 4 piece portions against the stift inelastic throat extension, said axial. bore including inner and outer bore portions With the inner bore portion being of greater diameter, and a shoulder-defining Wall portion connecting the in# ner surfaces of said bore portions, and a cap covering theV exposed end of said mouthpiece element and detachably engaging said radially-extending portion of said mouthpiece element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 79274222.y Falcon July 7, 1868 1,409,544 Hallock Mar. 14, 1922 1,575,567 Geake Mar. 2, 1926 1,699,965 Herzog Ian. 22, 1929 1,892,788 `Schwartz Ian. 3, 1933 2,098,128 Bailey Nov. 2, 1937 2,481,857 Menheneott et al. Sept. 13, 1949 2,687,831 Miller Aug. 31, 1954 2,690,181

vBoyer Sept. 28, 1954 

